The state Senate has unanimously agreed to allow the Teach for America program to operate in the commonwealth.

The national nonprofit recruits recent college graduates to work for two years in low-income urban and rural public schools. The bill states the Board of Education may extend each Teach for America license for one additional year and may issue each licensee a renewable license upon completion of two full years of teaching experience and satisfaction of all other requirements.

Gov. Bob McDonnell urged the General Assembly to pass the measure in his State of the Commonwealth Address, and it swept through the House without opposition last week.

McDonnell had also urged passage of a Constitutional amendment to allow the state Board of Education authority to establish charter schools within the state's school divisions. That bill failed in the Senate.